Lads,
Firs off, thanks to all who have answered my post with help and suggestions. I went to my shooting area yesterday and shot 80 rounds through my Spencer. This is one of the most FUN guns I have fired in a long time. Even with the back asswards way to chamber a round, put hammer on half cock, lever a round, then full cock, then fire.
Seems tedious, but once you find a rhythm, you can really throw bullets down range.
This must have been demoralizing to the Confederate troops to go up agains a Company of these rifles, when you are muzzleloading and capping a single shot musket
With the Lyman 55139 bullet I have temporarily settled at 1.55 for an OAL in my new Cimarron Chiappi Spencer.
This length is feeding well except for the first round when loading 7 rounds in the magazine.
The first round has to be "jacked" in fast and with some force. The rest cycle smoothly if I throw the lever fast and not hesitate after the lever is is opened. I do get a mark on the bullet nose, but I am not sure where this is coming from, the magazine feed or the shell holder fingers.
I have sized at .513 in my Star sizer and have a beginning load of 8 grains of Unique lubed with Magma red. , At 50 yards I am getting a fairly accurate group of an average of 2.5", and considering the poor sight notch and the 12 pound trigger, this is acceptable till I cut the rear sight notch into a partridge and lighten the trigger, and I think I can close up that group and then move it out to 100 yards
I believe I am having powder blow back, as I am getting a smoke streak on one side of the ejected cases.
I think I don't have enough pressure to fully expand the brass to make a tight seal. I am using unique right now, as it is one of the powders I have on hand that are compatible.
I have on hand in good quantity these powders, Unique, 2400, Accurate 5744, IMR 3031, 4198, 4895, I have one measly small can of Trail Boss and of course Scheutzen 2F of which I have 20 pounds
I am trying to develop a smokeless load first, then onto black
Do you men have any powder recommendations for what I have on hand? and a load that will expand the brass to seal the breech? Finding any other powder anywhere is becoming a fruitless search
I also just received the modified lee mould, but have not cast with it yet.
Any further Spencer help would be Appreciated
Thanks,
Wolf Killer
Donald Bowman